Providence Health & Services, Health Magazine

Providence

SUMMER 2012

A guide to healthy living and quality care providencehealthonline.org

Are You Expecting?

Providence can help every step of the way

Concussion Care Learn the signs of brain injuries

Back Pain Be Gone!

What we’re doing to relieve those aches and pains

Demystifying Medicare We explain the ABCs of this medical coverage

Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Mission Hills

Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro

Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance

Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Burbank

Providence Tarzana Medical Center Tarzana

Providence Medical Institute

Thoughts from Your Chief Executives

From Concussion Care to Special Support for Newborns expertise and our specialized care for infants. Four of our medical centers have neonatal intensive care units (NICU) including Providence Tarzana Medical Center, which is the only hospital in the area certified by California Children’s Services to perform neonatal surgeries.

Plus, Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance has the first single-family room NICU in Los Angeles County.

Stewardship is one of our core values, and all Providence ministries embrace “green” solutions. Providence Holy Cross Medical Center has become the first hospital in Southern California to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver recognition.

Finally, you’ll notice a change on this page. Our colleague Barry Wolfman, chief executive of Providence Saint Joseph since 2008, has taken a new position at his alma mater, George Washington University Hospital. Kerry Carmody is interim chief executive.

One of the more troubling health care issues involves the cumulative impact of mild head injuries. Research shows that repeated injuries—as seemingly mild as a header in soccer—can cause serious damage to the brain.

In this issue of Providence Health, we look at these sports injuries and how we treat them. At Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, our new computerized assessment tools can determine whether an athlete who has suffered a concussion is able to return to the field. The hospital is the only acute-care medical center in the Valley to provide this service. And many of our Providence Medical Institute urgent care centers in the South Bay and the Valley area can diagnose concussions.

You’ll also read about our addiction medicine program at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro, successful for more than 30 years in treating alcoholism and drug addiction.

And we feature two very important Providence services: our spinal surgery

In this issue

Concussion 6 The Discussion Learn what we’re doing to identify and treat concussions safely and effectively.

8 Spinal Solutions Bothered by back pain? We can help you put it behind you.

Ready 10 Get for Baby

Find everything you and your growing family need during this exciting time at Providence—from prenatal education to quality care and so much more.

IN EVERY ISSUE 3 Community Connections 14 Senior Health

Cross

Nancy Carlson Chief Executive Providence Little Company of Mary San Pedro

16 Providence Medical Institute 17 Calendar of Classes and Events

summer 2012

Kerry Carmody Interim Chief Executive Providence Saint Joseph

Elizabeth Dunne Chief Executive Providence Little Company of Mary Torrance

Dale Surowitz Chief Executive Providence Tarzana

Barbara Yosses ChiefExecutive Providence Medical Institute

PROVIDENCE health Produced by Marketing & Communications at Providence Health & Services, Southern California

15 Foundation Focus

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Larry Bowe Chief Executive Providence Holy

Providence Health Editor-in-Chief: Nancy Franklin Providence Health Managing Editors: Patricia Aidem Gwyn Dilday Jennifer Fagnani Connie Matthews Kirk McDonald Natasha Shows Contributors: Tiffany DeVall Brenda Goettemoeller Juanita Perea Kathryn Sprague

Content Editor: Colleen Ringer Art Director: Maggie Conners Production Technology Specialist: Sonia Washington Imaging Specialist: Dane Nordine Production Manager: Tanya Clark

The material in Providence Health is not intended for diagnos­ing or prescribing.

Consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise ­program or dietary guidelines. If you wish to be removed from the mailing list, please tear off the shipping label and mail it to Remove Me, P.O. Box 17910, Phoenix, AZ 85011 or go to acd.mcmurry.com.

Providence Health is published four times annually by McMurry, 1010 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014. Volume 4, Number 3 © 2012 McMurry.

Printed on recycled paper.

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Community Connections

Our Mission As people of Providence, we reveal God’s love for all, especially the poor and vulnerable, through our compassionate service.

Help for Those with Addiction

Providence offers premier addiction medicine program

Core Values

Respect Affirming the God-given dignity and worth of each person.

Compassion Caring for each person as part of our family.

Do You Know Someone Who Needs Help?

Justice Working for a fair and equitable society.

Call 1-888-HEALING to learn more about the Recovery Center.

Excellence Continually improving all that we do.

Stewardship Wisely caring for and sharing human, environmental and financial resources held in trust.

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One out of every four people knows someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Providence Little Company of Mary Recovery Center in San Pedro offers help and hope by providing treatment for chemical dependency.

“When someone is addicted, the addiction touches everybody around that person,” says Crescenzo Pisano, M.D., an addictionologist and medical director of addiction medicine at the Recovery Center. “Often, people are afraid and, while they know they shouldn’t continue, they don’t know how to stop.”

That’s where the Recovery Center comes in. For more than 30 years, the physicians, nurses and counselors there have provided treatment for addiction, abuse and/or dependency of the following drugs: • Alcohol • Amphetamines

• Methamphetamine • Prescription medications • Opiates • Cocaine • Marijuana • Hallucinogens “We’re one of only a few full-service addiction medicine programs still affiliated with a hospital,” Dr. Pisano says. “We offer 24-hour nursing care for inpatients.”

Patients can self-refer to the program or be referred by a medical professional or friend. Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro’s new Center for Optimal Aging—an outpatient program that assesses mobility, balance, strength, nutrition, medication use and cognitive performance in seniors—can also refer seniors struggling to manage multiple medications. summer 2012 Providence Health | 3

Community Connections

Providence Gives Back to Our Communities You’ve heard the saying, “Put your money where your mouth is.” At Providence Health & Services, Southern California our numbers illustrate how we honor our call to serve.

Here’s a snapshot of our 2011 charitable giving:

$29.3 million

The amount spent in charity care— financial assistance for the truly poor and vulnerable who cannot pay all or part of their bills due to economic status.

$27.4 million

The amount spent on free and subsidized programs to keep our communities healthy.

These include wellness and prevention education classes, health fairs and screenings, immunizations and support groups.

$67.2 million

The amount spent in subsidizing unpaid costs of Medi-Cal. These dollars close the gap between what Medi-Cal pays and what it actually costs to care for patients.

$123.9 million

Total community benefit—in dollars—provided in 2011 to Valley and South Bay residents.

This figure includes charity care, programs and subsidized care.

247,558

The number of people served by Providence community benefits in 2011, either through financial assistance or through health fairs, classes, etc.

On the Web

Visit our new website at providence.org/california We are pleased to announce the launch of our new website providence.org/california. Here you will find a wealth of new features including the ability to create an online account, which will allow you to receive news and information tailored especially to meet your health needs. In addition, you can take free risk assessments, use the symptom checker, and browse information about various conditions, treatments, surgical procedures, prescription drugs and health risks.

Out and about? No problem. Providence is now mobile! From your mobile device, you can access our website to find Providence physicians, locations and health information.

We’ve gone social. Join our online communities on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. There you’ll be able to receive daily health tips, view physician video profiles and health-related videos, and much more.

Stay tuned for many more enhancements in the near future–including the development of our secure patient portal where you will be able to securely schedule appointments and access your Providence health records and test results.

Download the mobile application so that your mobile device can read this scan. It will launch the new providencehealthonline.org on your mobile device.

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When Seconds Count When treating heart attacks and stroke, seconds count. So does having access to specialized services, like those offered at all five of our Providence medical centers.

The new Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Critical Care Transport Team Ambulance is available 24/7 to transfer critically ill heart attack and stroke patients from other area hospitals that don’t offer these specialized services to the Providence Saint Joseph emergency department.

Debbie Buffham, R.N., MICN, CEN, program supervisor, explains a common scenario: “Sometimes a stroke patient will go to the closest ER. What they didn’t know was that the hospital may not be able to provide the best care for them. That ER is then trying to find a hospital that has the appropriate services, an available bed and is compatible with the patient’s insurance.”

Meanwhile, seconds tick away.

Providence hospitals have those specialists and are designated stroke and heart attack receiving centers. “Partner hospitals now notify us immediately.

We pick patients up in the Critical Care Ambulance and a specially trained nurse on board the ambulance provides care en route to Providence Saint Joseph,” Buffham says.

The program is funded by a $500,000 grant from the UniHealth Foundation. providencehealthonline.org

Community Connections

It’s Easy Being Green at Providence Providence is committed to the communities it serves, which is why each facility has implemented environmentally friendly practices that will help foster more sustainable communities. “Every little thing adds up and leads us to truly live out our core value of Stewardship,” says Sara Kettler, sustainability coordinator at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance. Here’s a sampling of the green deeds happening across the Providence system.

Providence Holy Cross Medical Center: As the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver-certified hospital in Southern California, Providence Holy Cross features energy-saving roofing, waterefficient landscaping and an air conditioning system designed to reduce ozone depletion.

Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center: Cafeteria staff has placed an emphasis on purchasing locally grown produce, eliminating non-compostable materials (i.e., Styrofoam) and installing recycling bins.

Providence Tarzana Medical Center: Energy-efficient bulbs and recycle bins have been installed hospital-wide. In addition, Providence Tarzana is saving hundreds of gallons of water each month by using recycled water to run certain pieces of equipment, and the installation of electronic medical records continues to conserve copious amounts of paper.

Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro: A few notable green initiatives here include landscaping with 95 percent California native, droughttolerant plants; the installation of water-saving devices on sinks; and the installation of a cardboard baler to crush and recycle cardboard boxes. The hospital also has received four Energy Star awards and is plastic bottle-free.

Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance: This medical center received the Practice

Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Award for its efforts to increase recycling and the installation of occupancy sensors, energy efficient lamps and daylight controls for lighting.

Providence High School’s Freshmen Scholarship Recipients As the Providence High School community celebrated the end of a successful and record-breaking 2011-2012 school year, the faculty and staff are preparing to usher in the newest Pioneers.

Next fall, approximately 120 freshmen will begin their fouryear journey at Providence High School. The following incoming freshmen were awarded scholarships: Michael Buenaventura, Amy Chan, Allen Eguia, Isabella Hays-Velasco, Grant Menke, Andre Ortiz, Ada-Nicole Sanger, Margaret Staedler and Emily Velandia.

Congratulations to the incoming class of 2016! The Providence High School community welcomes you and looks forward to yet another successful school year.

It’s not too late to enroll your child at Providence High School for the 2012-2013 school year. For more information, please call 818-846-8141 or visit providencehigh.org. providencehealthonline.org

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The Concussion Discussion Get back on the field safely with Providence’s concussion care

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ou’ve heard the colloquialisms: “Man, he got his bell rung.” “After that ding to the head, he’s seeing stars.”

But there’s nothing cute about concussions. In fact, sports-related head injuries are such a hot topic that even the word “concussion” is being re-evaluated. “The new term we’re trying to stress is mild traumatic brain injury,” says P. John Georgio, M.D., an urgent care sports medicine physician with Providence Medical Institute. “We don’t want people to think of this as a minor problem.”

As increased awareness and new research changes the way people respond to head injuries, here’s what you need to know.

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Prevention and Education

A concussion is defined as a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works.

The good news is most people with a concussion recover fully.

“As a society we love sports—particularly contact sports. There’s no way of completely avoiding concussions,” says Michael Marvi, M.D., M.S., a specialist in neurology and movement disorders at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center’s Hycy and Howard Hill Neuroscience Institute. In fact, if your son or daughter participates in a contact sport, the odds of concussion may be as high as 19 percent.

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Providence Saint Joseph’s Concussion Management Clinic can help. Now in its second year, the clinic is certified to use the ImPACT test, a neurocognitive assessment tool that uses shortterm, visual and verbal memory exercises to measure brain function.

“Students can come in a month or two before the season starts to get a baseline test,” Dr. Marvi says, adding that knowing a student’s normal, pre-injury performance can be key if a head injury occurs. “A decline in performance scores may show there has been a concussion.”

Of course, it’s also essential to protect against concussions in the first place—particularly for avid bikers or those who play contact sports. “Proper safety gear is essential,” Dr. Marvi says.

Know the Signs

Spotting concussions can be tricky, since athletes may not experience or report signs right away. Sometimes, this is because they fear being sidelined during a big game—especially if championship or scholarship implications are on the line. Other times this is because signs evolve slowly. “Symptoms may appear right after an injury, or they may take hours,” Dr. Marvi says.

Look for the following after a fall or blow to the head: • A dazed or stunned appearance • Confusion about assignment or position • Forgetfulness • Uncertainty about game, score or opponent • Clumsy movement • Slowness to answer questions • Loss of consciousness • Mood, behavior or personality changes • Inability to recall events prior or after a hit or fall In addition, if an athlete reports symptoms such as headache or “pressure” in the head, nausea, double vision, sensitivity to light or noise, it’s time to seek treatment (see sidebar to learn when it’s an emergency).

Help Is Available

In California, state law mandates that a medical doctor be on the sidelines during high school varsity football games. Athletic trainers and paramedics are also usually on hand to offer on-field assessments to check airway, breathing and level of symptoms.

However, many concussions take place away from the field, so it’s important to have a plan on where to seek treatment.

Providence Medical Institute stands ready to help with 34 convenient medical clinics and urgent care locations staffed with providers affiliated with Providence. Providence Saint Joseph’s Concussion Management Clinic can diagnose concussions through imaging tests such as CT scans and MRI. And of course, all Providence emergency departments also offer these imaging tests.

If a concussion is diagnosed, a medical professional will help guide a slow, safe return to activity.

In the end, all the precaution surrounding concussions is designed for long-term health and safety. “In the past, it used to be that an athlete ‘got his bell rung,’ missed the first half, and got out there for the second half,” Dr. Georgio says. “Mild traumatic brain injury is now taken much more seriously.”

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Seeking Treatment for Concussions Whether your child is riding bikes with buddies or playing an organized sport, it’s smart to know when— and where—to seek help if a head injury occurs.

P. John Georgio, M.D., an urgent care sports medicine physician with Providence Medical Institute, offers the following advice.

When to call 911 or go to the ER: • Loss of movement in a limb • Loss of vision or double vision • Weakness • Vomiting • Headache out of proportion to the injury When to go to an urgent care center or an emergency department with a rapid medical evaluation or “fast track” process: • Feeling tired or foggy • Not as “sharp” as usual • Feeling “off”

Head Injury Support To learn more about Providence Saint Joseph’s Concussion Management Clinic, call 1-888-HEALING or visit providencehealthonline.org.

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Spinal Solutions Providence has your back with innovative pain-relieving procedures

Get Back on Your Feet Fixing your spine is just the beginning. Sometimes, patients need help un-learning bad habits, strengthening muscle groups or increasing mobility.

Whether you live in the San Fernando Valley or South Bay, Providence offers superb outpatient rehabilitation services with therapists who specialize in the treatment of spinal disorders.

If you’re ready to return to everyday activities, Providence therapists can get you back on your feet. To find the outpatient rehabilitation center closest to you, call 1-888-HEALING.

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uffering from excruciating lower back pain and leg numbness, 49-year-old Robby Halaby hated watching life from the sidelines. “He would drop me and the kids off outside the mall then just sit Robby Halaby outside and wait,” says Robby’s wife, Hadia.

Robby languished through unsuccessful treatments until a co-worker referred him to Providence Tarzana Medical Center. “I was scared and desperate,” Robby says, “but I had to do something because after five minutes of standing, my legs would get numb and I would lose my balance.”

In December of last year, Greg Khounganian, M.D., an orthopedic spine surgeon on staff at Providence Tarzana, performed a lumbar fusion to stabilize Robby’s spine. Today he is back on his feet— and back to his family. “Now I have my husband back and my kids have their dad back,” Hadia says.

Robby’s story is one example of how Providence’s orthopedic and neurosurgery experts offer a full repertoire of inpatient and outpatient spine services to help patients get moving again.

The Problem of Pain

Your spine is made up of 24 vertebrae that create a canal to protect the spinal cord. But problems—such as compression, injury or arthritis—with the spine’s complex network of bones, muscles, nerves and discs can cause severe pain.

Low back pain is the biggest problem. In fact, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons estimates that as much as 80 percent of the population will experience low back pain.

“Spine surgery and spine problems are very complicated,” says Tiffany Rogers, M.D., an orthopedic spine surgeon at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance. “You can have arthritis pain, instability and compression— and sometimes all three.”

Common Treatments

Providence offers an array of procedures to help heal your pain, including: Discectomy: Disc herniation results from an injury to the pads between the vertebrae.

Improvement is expected with conservative treatment including medication, physical therapy and injections, on occasion. “Out of 100 people I see, 99 do not need surgery,” says Dr. Rogers, who was a physical therapist before she became a spine surgeon. Providence performs microdiscectomy and discectomy—the surgical removal of the herniated disc—for patients who do require surgery.

Nerve decompression surgery: Providence offers laminectomy and laminotomy for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis, a condition in which the spinal canal is narrowed, causing pressure on the providencehealthonline.org

nerves. “If the spine is being compressed by thickened joints or bone, we give the spine room to breathe by removing bone around the nerve root,” says Elijah Wogu, M.D., a neurosurgeon at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center.

X-STOP Spacer: Providence hospitals also offer the X-STOP Spacer, an implant that can relieve the pain from spinal stenosis by lifting a vertebra to “unpinch” a pinched nerve. “The device simply opens up the spine a little more,” Dr. Wogu says.

Spinal fusion: Sometimes a “welding process” called spinal fusion is performed to keep the spine stable by joining vertebrae. “The top reasons for this are degenerative disease or arthritic disease with instability,” says Melvin Snyder, M.D., FACS, a neurosurgeon at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro. Other reasons may include scoliosis, a tumor or a fracture.

Advanced Treatments

As technology evolves, Providence hospitals in the San Fernando Valley and the South Bay continue to redefine spine care.

At Providence Little Company of Mary San Pedro, spinal fusions are conducted using 3-D fluoroscopy integrated with BrainLab neuronavigation, a visualization and navigation tandem that Dr. Snyder likens to using GPS for better precision during surgery.

And at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, neurosurgeon Nouzhan Sehati, M.D., is on the forefront of artificial disc replacement, a relatively new FDA-approved technique that offers an alternative to fusion. “By replacing damaged discs, we’re allowing the vertebrae to move rather than fusing them. The goal is to have more mobility,” Dr. Sehati says. “A few years down the road, this may become the preferred alternative to fusion.”

In the end, whether you’re suffering from years of wear and tear or something unexpected like a tumor or an injury, it’s important to see a neurosurgeon or orthopedic spine surgeon to receive the right diagnosis. Robby, for one, is so glad he did. “I told Dr. Khounganian in the office before the surgery that I was in hell. Now I’m in heaven,” he says. “I wish I would have met him way back. I wouldn’t have had to go through all the suffering.”

Rid Your Life of Back Pain

Providence can help alleviate your back pain so you can return to an active lifestyle. To find a surgeon near you who specializes in back pain and injuries, call 1-888-HEALING.

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Get Ready for

Baby

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From simple comforts of home to topnotch technology, Providence gives you and your bundle of joy a healthier start

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tarting a family is packed with joy, excitement and—let’s face it— anxiety. That’s why Providence is here to help. With a wealth of prenatal and parenting classes, quality care and special extras, Providence’s five awardwinning medical centers and clinics offer the resources you and your growing family need to get off to a happy, healthy start. Here’s what you can expect.

Increase Your Baby IQ

Parents-to-be have a million questions. With a wide array of prenatal and parenting classes, Providence has answers.

“To help you prepare for your new bundle of joy, we offer childbirth, breastfeeding and baby care basics classes to help build confidence and reassurance as you begin your new role as loving parents,” says Mary Black-Williams, director of nursing for women’s and children’s health at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance, which provides prenatal classes for the entire South Bay. In fact, whether this is your first or fifth child, Providence helps parents master the ABCs of healthy childbirth and parenting.

Access to maternity tours. All five Providence medical centers offer maternity tours so parents can become familiar with the state-of-the-art delivery rooms. Additionally, hospitals in the Valley offer a Big Kids and Babies Sibling tour, which includes a walking tour of “mom’s” room and the nursery area, plus tips on safe play once baby comes home.

Breastfeeding/Baby Care classes. Our lactation consultants and baby care educators set you up for breastfeeding success by covering common problems and solutions inherent to breastfeeding, as well as maternal diet needs and tips for partner feedings. Baby Care classes fill future parents in on the essentials: nutrition, bathing, child safety and immunizations.

Childbirth preparation and refresher courses.

Sometimes called Lamaze, childbirth preparation classes help moms-to-be know what to do when labor starts and how to reduce stress during delivery. Refresher courses are available for return moms who want to brush up on the basics.

At Providence, support doesn’t stop with delivery.

Depending on where you live, you can access postpartum resources, including a Mommywise support group for new mothers and infants, infant and child CPR and even a therapist-led course designed to help couples during this enormous change. Some courses are available in Spanish.

Not all classes are offered at each hospital, so please call 1-888-HEALING to discover what’s available near you.

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For Babies Who Need Extra Attention If your baby is born too early or needs specialized care, Providence’s neonatal intensive care units (NICU) are staffed with specially trained doctors, nurses and support staff who can help.

“High-risk OB patients should consider NICU care when choosing a hospital. One of every 10 infants ends up in the NICU,” says Jon Yamamoto, M.D., medical director at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance. Here’s what the Providence family of ministries offers.

Providence Little Company of Mary Torrance: The first single-family room NICU in Los Angeles County, this 27-bed unit fosters privacy, closer bonding and decreased risk for infection. “With customized sound, temperature and lights, we can create optimal conditions for each individual baby,” Dr. Yamamoto says. In addition, laborists are available 24/7 in case of an emergency or if your physician can’t get to the hospital.

Providence Saint Joseph: This 20-bed Level III NICU utilizes innovative bassinets called Giraffes. The Giraffe eliminates the stress and potential harm of transferring infants because it can convert from an open table warmer into a soundproof incubator/isolette at the touch of a button.

Providence Tarzana: Also utilizing Giraffe technology, this 21-bed Level III NICU is proud to participate in multiple clinical database networks that track quality and care for critically ill infants. Data shows that Providence Tarzana consistently ranks among the top 25 percent in the nation in almost all measured outcomes. In addition, it is the only hospital in the area certified by California Children’s Services to perform neonatal surgeries.

Providence Holy Cross: Housed in the new patient care wing, this sparkling new 12-bed Level III NICU features private patient bays and is equipped to handle infants on ventilators. “Generally a Level III NICU can’t manage babies with vents, but we can,” says NICU Medical Director Jeffrey Hartleroad, M.D.

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Gain Access to Quality Care

Prepare for Parenthood

Saint Joseph was the first in the Providence At Providence, we offer numerous family to begin to implement testing, and Each month, hundreds of babies are born classes for expecting parents the program has been initiated by Debbie in Providence labor and delivery rooms. covering childbirth preparation, Camara, NNP/CNS. “We’re proactive in And when you’re deciding where to turn breastfeeding, infant care, CPR and much more. To register for a class finding heart dysfunctions in newborns,” for obstetrics care, experience counts. So or one of our popular maternity Hernandez says. “And we’re sharing our does having top-notch equipment. When tours, call 1-888-HEALING or visit protocol on how to do this with the rest of you choose to give birth at Providence, providenceclasses.org. the Providence hospitals.” you will find: In addition to Providence’s highly skilled • Board-certified physicians Ob-Gyn’s, the nursing staffs also take pride in high • Advanced monitoring and delivery standards, low patient ratios and clinical expertise. capabilities “You will receive compassionate care—the best care— • Lactation consultants from Providence nurses,” says Farid Yasharpour, M.D., an Ob-Gyn • 24/7 anesthesia and neonatology with Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. The facility has earned • 24/7 access to perinatology for high-risk OB care Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services—a distinction • 24/7 access to chaplains attained by only the top 5 percent of hospitals nationwide. “Our “We pride ourselves in offering a high level of expertise so we nurses are very empowered. They are very strong patient advocates,” are always prepared to handle any complications associated with Dr. Yasharpour says, noting that labor and delivery nurses have a high-risk pregnancies,” says Lisa Little, M.D., an Ob-Gyn with patient ratio of no more than two patients per nurse.

Providence Tarzana Medical Center. These can include gestational Providence Saint Joseph, meanwhile, offers on-site review diabetes, pre-eclampsia and hypertensive disorders, among others. courses to help prepare nurses for certification. “This educational In fact, doctors and staff from all Southern California push for our nurses helps them be the clinical experts they should Providence medical centers meet regularly to discuss best practices be. Research shows that certification is related to better care, and in obstetrics care. “We help each other stay current and identify this boosts patient confidence,” Hernandez says, noting that 45 strategies for all the ministries to get on board,” says Dawn percent of Providence Saint Joseph’s labor and delivery nurses are Hernandez, BSN, director of maternal-child health at Providence currently certified.

Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank.

And at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine congenital heart screenings for newborns. Providence San Pedro, nurses stay with laboring moms from labor to delivery

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Our Award-Winning Hospitals Providence Holy Cross Medical Center • Designated Baby Friendly Hospital, UNICEF/WHO Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative in the United States • Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace Award, the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness • Recipient of the HealthGrades Maternity Care Excellence Award™ three years in a row (2008-2010) • Ranked among the top 10 percent in the nation for maternity care three years in a row (2009-2011) • Five-star rated for maternity care three years in a row (2009-2011) Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center • HealthGrades Maternity Care Excellence Award™ (2009 and 2010) • Five-star rated for maternity care for nine years in a row (2003-2011)

and postpartum. “You have continuity of the same team. You don’t have one labor and delivery nurse, another nursery nurse and then a postpartum nurse,” says Deborah Cheeks, director of special care services.

Enjoy Added Amenities

In addition to excellence in care, Providence is proud to offer “extras” that set us apart.

Golden hour. Providence Saint Joseph, Providence Tarzana and Providence Holy Cross, which also holds a Baby Friendly designation, provide a “golden hour” for new parents and babies to bond without any intrusion for the first hour after delivery. “We also have lactation consultants involved with patients on a daily basis,” Dr. Yasharpour says.

Private rooms. Patients who choose Providence discover tastefully decorated private labor and delivery rooms that create a home-like setting—with ample room for both parents.

Providence Little Company of Mary San Pedro offers spacious private rooms with ocean and harbor views and overnight accommodations for friends or family. Patients stay in the same room throughout labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum.

At Providence Little Company of Mary Torrance, suites include bathtubs for labor and relaxation, refrigerators and Internet access.

At Providence Tarzana, new moms receive care at the Women’s Pavilion, a stand-alone facility dedicated to women and babies.

“This is not just labor and delivery. You walk in and you’re in the Women’s Pavilion, not just on another hospital floor,” Dr. Little says. Providence Tarzana’s Women’s and Children’s Services has

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Providence Tarzana Medical Center • Recipient of the HealthGrades Maternity Care Excellence Award™ two years in a row (2010 and 2011) • Ranked among the top 10 percent in the nation for maternity care for two years in a row (2010 and 2011) • Five-star rated for maternity care for two years in a row (2010-2011) Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance • Recognized by Thomson Reuters as one of the nation’s top 100 hospitals Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro • HealthGrades Maternity Care Excellence Award™ (2008 and 2009)

ranked in the top 10 percent in the nation two years in a row for maternity care excellence.

Web nursery. Several of our ministries have launched online web nurseries, which allow the proud family to display their baby’s first pictures on the newborn’s own web page.

From bells and whistles like high-tech ultrasound and in-room fetal surveillance monitoring equipment to simple comforts such as an uninterrupted first hour with your newborn, Providence is equipped to provide optimum care and comfort.

So, let the joy and excitement begin. Explore all that Providence has to offer today.

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Senior Health

Breathe Easy

How Providence is fighting the leading cause of cancer death

Breast cancer has galvanized professional athletes to sport pink. Prostate cancer has moved men to discuss this oncetaboo topic. The live “Katie Couric Colonoscopy” in 2000 highlighted colorectal cancer like never before.

Yet lung cancer claims more victims than all three cancers combined.

“Lung cancer is a very underappreciated disease,” says James McPherson, M.D., a board-certified thoracic surgeon at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance.

“It is the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.” Providence is hoping to change that. Here’s how.

Screening Specifics

At present, there is no routine screening for lung cancer. In fact, lung cancer is often diagnosed through chest X-rays performed on patients with pneumonia or heart disease.

And by the time lung cancer is visible on an X-ray, it’s often more widespread in the body—and more lethal. The American Lung Association reports that when lung cancer has spread to other organs, the five-year survival rate is 3.5 percent.

There is good news, however. Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center and Providence Little Company of Mary Torrance offer low-dose CT scans—a test that’s better at finding small lung cancers—to those at highest risk: people over 50 who have smoked 30 or more years.

“CT screening decreases mortality from lung cancer by 20 percent in this high-risk population,” says Susan Jacobs, R.N., 14 | Providence Health

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nurse navigator at the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center at Providence Saint Joseph in Burbank. “For lung cancer, this is an amazing number.”

Treating Lung Cancer

The Disney Family Cancer Center and Providence Little Company of Mary Torrance are also on the forefront of lung cancer treatment through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

When lung cancer has not spread into the body, surgery may be the first treatment option. Providence Little Company of Mary Torrance employs the da Vinci surgical system, which offers surgeons greater precision and dexterity while reducing recovery time and the size of the incision.

Called “adjunctive” therapies, chemotherapy and radiation can also be used to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy does this with drugs, while radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays.

The Disney Family Cancer Center also offers minimally invasive surgery options and stereotactic radiotherapy, a new lung cancer treatment that delivers a targeted dose of radiation to the tumor with less damage to surrounding tissue.

Are You at High Risk?

Call 1-888-HEALING to see if you qualify for a low-cost lung cancer screening.

providencehealthonline.org

Foundation Focus

Save the Date!

From sipping wine seaside to dancing the night away, get your fun on for a good cause

Support Local Health Care For more information about how you can become involved in Southern California Providence Foundations, please visit providencepowerofgiving.org.

July 19 Providence Tarzana Foundation Gala

Four Seasons Hotel, Westlake Village For details, please contact Jacqueline Jordan at 818-757-4386 or jacqueline.jordan@providence.org.

Sept. 23 Providence TrinityCare Hospice presents the 22nd Annual Sunday by the Sea Food and Wine Tasting Gala

Held on the grounds of a private estate in Palos Verdes Estates, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

For details, please call 310-257-3535.

Oct. 1 Providence Tarzana Foundation 4th Annual Golf Classic

Woodland Hills Country Club, Woodland Hills For details, please contact Jacqueline Jordan at 818-757-4386 or jacqueline.jordan@providence.org.

Golf. Dining and dancing. Food and wine tasting by the sea.

Southern California Providence Foundations are putting the fun into fundraiser. And we hope your passion for the good works of our foundations inspires you to participate in our 2012 special events.

“There are plenty of worthy causes to become involved in, but Providence events are a favorite of mine,” says Karen Olds, Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation trustee and volunteer. “You have the satisfaction of knowing your presence is helping to provide resources for better health care in the community.”

In fact, the Providence Foundations enable each medical center to keep pace with advances in lifesaving technology while staying true to the Providence Mission of caring for the poor and vulnerable.

So, what are you waiting for? Buy a table for friends or a ticket for yourself. Be a sponsor, advertiser or auction donor. providencehealthonline.org

Oct. 6 Providence Holy Cross Foundation Gala

Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library, Simi Valley For details, please contact Jacqueline Jordan at 818-757-4386 or jacqueline.jordan@providence.org.

Nov. 3 Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation Sellabration Gala

The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey For details, please contact Leslie Chung at 310-303-5346 or leslie.chung2@providence.org.

Nov. 8 Providence Saint Joseph Foundation Gala

Warner Bros. Studio, Burbank For details, please contact Jacqueline Jordan at 818-757-4386 or jacqueline.jordan@providence.org. summer 2012 Providence Health | 15

Providence Medical Institute

Demystifying Medicare Providence offers multiple options to help keep your golden years glowing

Do you ever feel like the confusion surrounding Medicare coverage, contracts and co-pays will send you over the edge?

You’re not alone.

It’s time to demystify Medicare. Here’s a quick tutorial—plus some insight on how Providence Medical Institute (PMI) makes it easy for Medicare patients to stay within the Providence family.

Understanding Your Choices

When you turn 65, you become eligible for Medicare and automatically get Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance).

But there’s another piece to the Medicare puzzle—the Medicare Advantage Plan, or Medicare Part C. This is where seniors need to show some savvy, says Dr. Elizabeth Sander, M.D., a Providence Medical Institute physician. “Medicare Part B does not pay for some screenings and tests, and it only pays for 80 percent of most charges. Seniors need to look at their options to find a plan that picks up what Medicare does not.”

Medicare-approved private insurance companies provide Part C plans, which vary in terms of premiums, co-pays, coverage and costs. Some plans cover things like transportation, wheelchairs and oxygen, while others don’t. It’s important to find the option that’s right for you. “A senior can get all of their Part A and Part B coverage, in addition to prescription drug coverage (Part D) through these Medicare Advantage Plans,” says Ron Robinson, administrator of Axminster Medical Group, which is affiliated with Providence Medical Institute.

Finding a Solution

“Now Providence Medical Institute can provide coverage options for Medicare Part C,” Robinson says.

This means that patients now have access to multiple Part C senior health plans directly through Providence Medical Institute’s 34 medical clinic and urgent care locations throughout the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Conejo valleys, the South Bay and Harbor cities.

“Patients can sign up for Medicare plans affiliated with Providence and see all their doctors through the Providence 16 | Providence Health

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Medical Institute network,” Robinson says. “This makes it much easier for seniors to access their primary care physician and other physicians within the Providence family.”

This goes for new patients as well. “If patients want a physician associated with Providence, we offer a comprehensive range of primary care and specialty physicians,” Robinson says.

Greater access to great care. Now, that’s got a lot of luster.

Learn More about Medicare

Medicare open enrollment is Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, so start planning today! Call 1-888-HEALING to learn about the Medicare plan options available through Providence Medical Institute providers or for dates and locations of Medicare education seminars in your area. providencehealthonline.org

Calendar July-September

Community Classes and Events From support groups to fitness classes, each Providence medical center provides the programs you need to live healthfully. For more information on any of the classes, events and screenings listed below, visit providenceclasses.org or call 1-888-HEALING (432-5464).

Support Groups Support groups offer patients and families a chance to share experiences of learning and healing. For those who have experienced health issues, we offer the following support groups: Better Breathers’ Club Breast Cancer Cancer Cardiac Rehabilitation Caregivers Congestive Heart Failure Diabetes Grief Heart Disease Liver and Pancreatic Cancer Live Wires*

*For Parkinson’s disease patients who have undergone deep brain stimulation Lymphedema

Osteoporosis Stress Reduction Stroke Survivors After Suicide Traumatic Brain Injury Valley Pumpers Women’s Cancer Fitness Arthritis Friendly Exercise Program Exercise Safely with Guidance & Support Get Physical Lively Lungs Burbank Mall Walkers* South Bay Galleria Gaitors Walking Program

ellness classes and W screenings Asthma Education Nutrition Roundtable Outpatient Nutritional Counseling Pre-Operation Total Joint Replacement Education Pulmonary Education Program Pulmonary Rehab Self-Training Diabetes classes Basic Diabetes Education Class Diabetes 101 & Self-Care Diabetes and Pregnancy Diabetes Self-Management Program Healthy Living with Diabetes Individual Sessions with a Diabetes Specialist

Childbirth and Parent Education All Providence medical centers offer a full schedule of classes to prepare parents-to-be for pregnancy, birth and parenting. For more information or to download a copy of our 2012 schedule of classes, visit providence.org/baby or call 1-888-HEALING (432-5464).

Prepare for birth BabyWise Maternity Tour Big Kids and Babies Sibling Maternity Tour Prepare for baby The Amazing Newborn Anesthesia and Cesarean Section Baby Care Breastfeeding Childbirth Preparation Lamaze Classes* *Spanish-language classes available Childbirth Preparation Intensive Course, one-day intensive class Childbirth Refresher Course Parents Expecting Multiples Preparing for Your Newborn, four-part series Transition to Parenthood

providencehealthonline.org

Classes about baby Baby Signs Basics, baby sign language for hearing babies Infant Safety and CPR, a class for expectant and new parents; newborn to age 1 Infant/Child Safety and CPR*, a class for parents who have children from newborn to age 8 *Spanish-language classes available After baby is born Safe Sitter/Super Sitter, a program that teaches young adolescents how to care for children Sign, Say and Play Continuing Program, six-week baby sign language program Support Groups Breastfeeding MommyWise, a weekly support group for new mothers and their infants Perinatal Loss summer 2012 Providence Health | 17

YOGA, MEDITATION AND MORE Numerous classes are open to the public, including yoga, acupressure, meditation, massage, qi gong, acupuncture, tai chi, therapeutic touch, sonic healing and guided imagery.

Meets: Various days and times. Visit triumphovercancer.org for a full schedule.

Location: All classes held at the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, 181 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank Info: 818-748-4701

Featured Events Are You At risk for colon cancer?

One in 20 will develop colon cancer in their lifetime. Don’t become a number.

Schedule your colonoscopy today.

Location: Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, 501 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank Info: 818-748-4762 Take control of your breast health Schedule your mammogram today. Weekend and evening appointments available.

Location: Providence Saint Joseph Breast Health Center, 191 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank Info: 818-847-4999 Regain the confidence of having natural teeth Medical insurance may pay for dental implants if you receive your CT scan and outpatient surgery at the hospital.

Call for an appointment with one of our experts.

Location: Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, 501 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank Info: 1-888-HEALING

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New treatments for uterine fibroids Learn more about minimally invasive options that preserve your reproductive health.

Location: Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, 501 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank Info: 1-888-HEALING Weight loss surgery Are you ready to re-start your life?

Learn more about our minimally invasive options, including LapBand, gastric bypass and gastric sleeve procedures.

Location: Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, 501 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank Info: Visit restartlife.org for more information.

Childbirth preparation Learn what to expect during labor, delivery and recovery. Certified childbirth educators also will share breathing and relaxation techniques.

Meets: Mondays, June 4–Sept. 24; Wednesdays, June 6–Sept. 26; 6:30–9 p.m.

Location: Providence Tarzana Medical Center, 18321 Clark St., Tarzana Info: 1-888-432-5464

Online Calendar

Go to providenceclasses.org for class descriptions, times and locations, and to register.

Congestive Heart Failure Support Group Live well with CHF by learning to recognize the symptoms and manage medications and diet. Family members welcome. Bring a list of your current medications.

Meets: July 11, Aug. 22, Sept. 19, Oct. 17; 5–6:30 p.m.

Location: Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance, Del Webb Center for Health Education, 4101 Torrance Blvd., Torrance Info: 1-888-HEALING Cardiac Support Group Cardiac patients, family and friends meet to provide mutual support and discuss solutions to common problems.

Meets: Once a month from 5–6:30 p.m.; call for specific date.

Location: Providence CardioPulmonary Rehab Center, 20929 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance Info: 310-303-7070 Diabetes self-management program This comprehensive approach to diabetes self-management education will help you gain control of your diabetes, improve your health and help you feel your very best. The program is customized to meet your unique needs. Doctor referral required to schedule an appointment.

Location: Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance, Del Webb Center for Health Education, 4101 Torrance Blvd., Torrance Info: 310-303-5560 Bridges Psychiatric Outpatient Day Program This program offers psychiatry, group therapy and socialization. A wide range of topics is covered, from depression and anxiety to coping skills and healthy relationships.

Meets: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Location: Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro, 1300 W. Seventh St., San Pedro Info: 310-241-4325

providencehealthonline.org

Prostate cancer screenings one in six men will develop prostate cancer. Don’t become a Number.

The Caregiver Lecture Series Join the team at the Center for Optimal Aging to discuss topics including: Aug. 16–“How to Evaluate and Choose the Right Nursing Home” Oct. 18–“Handling the Legal Affairs of a Senior Loved One” All lectures are from 6:30–8:30 p.m.

Location: Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro, 1300 W. 7th St., San Pedro Info: 1-800-618-6659 AARP Driver Safety programs This two-part AARP/Driver Safety Program is for people 55 or older who want to reduce their automobile insurance premiums. You must attend both four-hour sessions to receive your AARP certificate. $12 for AARP members’ $14 for nonmembers.

Meets: July 11 and 18; Aug. 8 and 15; Sept. 12 and 19; Oct. 10 and 17; 1–5 p.m. (No classes in Nov. or Dec.) Location: Providence Occupational Health Center, 3413 Pacific Ave., Burbank Reservations: 818-847-4535 Burbank Mall Walkers Join the Burbank Mall Walkers for information that can help your health.

Presentations include: July 11–Get answers to your health questions at this open forum with Rimma Shaposhnikov, M.D.; Aug. 8–“Medicare Fraud” presented by the Center for Medicare Rights; Sept. 12–“Living Trusts” by Mitchell Karasov, Esq. Oct. 10–“Your Eye Health,” by Barbara

providencehealthonline.org

Yates, M.D. All classes are from 9–10 a.m.

Location: Burbank Town Center, Food Court, third level, 201 E. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank Info: 818-847-4535 Galleria Gaitors walking club Join the Galleria Gaitors for group exercises and quarterly presentations.

Galleria doors open to members at 7 a.m., seven days a week. Applications are available at Guest Services, first level, in the Nordstrom wing.

Meets: Thursdays, 8 a.m.

Location: South Bay Galleria, Food Court, third level, 1815 Hawthorne Blvd., Redondo Beach Info: 310-371-7546

Providence Holy Cross Medical Center FREE prostate cancer screenings for the community. Appointments are limited to the first 200 registrants.

Meets: Sept. 8, 8–11:30 a.m.

Location: Providence Holy Cross Cancer Center, 15031 Rinaldi St., Mission Hills Info: 1-888-HEALING Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Call for an appointment.

Location: Roy & Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, 181 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank Info: 818-748-4762

Monthly CPR & Safety Classes • Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers • Basic Life Support, Part 2: Skills Evaluation • Heartsaver CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) • Heartsaver First Aid with CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) • Heartsaver, Part 2: Skills Evaluation • Infant/Child CPR • Super Sitter Call 1-888-HEALING (432-5464) or visit providenceclasses.org to register.

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Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center 501 S. Buena Vista St. Burbank, CA 91505-4809

Non Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID Providence Health